Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: "The defendant had with him a large white American bulldog on a lead. The injured party was walking on the pavement next to the address.

"The dog has, without warning, snarled and taken hold of the injured party's left forearm, causing a significant injury."

The attack happened in West Street, Leek (Image: Google Street View)

The court heard Eaglefield pulled the dog away and put it inside before tending to the victim. He called an ambulance and she was taken to hospital.

Miss Thompson said: "The injured party had 45 stitches to the wound, which will require ongoing treatment and possible skin grafts."

In a statement read out in court, the victim said she had been left scared to walk past the location of the attack. She added : "This could have been far worse if it had been a child or an elderly person."

Eaglefield told a probation officer the dog was 17 months old, and he had owned it for nine months, since taking it from a friend who was trying to rehome it. He said the dog had never behaved aggressively before.

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The defendant pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control and caused injury.

Lee Yates, mitigating, said: "This was an instantaneous act. Mr Eaglefield was coming out of his property with his dog on a lead and had turned back to the door to lock it.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre

"He has no explanation as to why the dog would do that - he has never previously behaved that way.

"Mr Eaglefield acted properly after the event - he put the dog back inside, tended to the injured party, called an ambulance and gave all his details. When he was interviewed he expressed significant remorse.

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"He has taken every sensible step and precaution that one would expect of a sensible dog owner."

As well as making the compensation order, magistrates imposed a contingent destruction order which states that the dog must be kept on a short lead and muzzled at all times when it is in public. If Eaglefield fails to comply with the order, the dog will be destroyed.